Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left Achilles tendon tear, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the eligibility criteria for enrollment in benefits under the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to his need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury, despite previous denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The claims are now pending and will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's widow, M.Z., had an overpayment of $28,004 charged to her estate. The claim for a waiver of this debt was denied because it was filed beyond the statutory time limit.

The Board has remanded the case for a de novo review of the claims file and readjudication of the issue of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis on the merits. The related claim for compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an eye infection injury is also remanded.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis, effective from July 8, 2021.

The appeal of the March 7, 2025, HLR rejection letter is dismissed as the AOJ has already provided the relief sought in this appeal.

The Veteran's PLS, a variant of ALS, is granted as service connected due to the presumption under 38 C.F.R. § 3.318.

The Veteran's PVCs were granted a 30% disability rating, effective as of April 15, 2016. The ratings for right and left foot strains remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for PCAFC benefits, stating that eligibility criteria were not met prior to his May 2024 application.

The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the PCAFC program due to insufficient evidence showing that they require personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months.

The Board found that the Veteran's UTI and sepsis were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The evidence showed that the Veteran had a history of diabetes and was non-compliant with his medication regimen.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer and brain tumor claims have been denied. The esophageal cancer claim is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service, including herbicide exposure. The brain tumor claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits for the Veteran's children, finding that the legal basis does not allow for such a grant due to the one-year rule after the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for basal cell carcinoma was denied as the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on scars, disfigurement, or impairment of function.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to receiving a combined disability rating of 100%.

The Board has found that the Veteran is not eligible for PCAFC benefits due to a lack of clinical documentation supporting his need for caregiving. The appeal is being remanded to correct this pre-decisional error.

The Veteran's appeal for VR&E benefits was dismissed because he signed and entered into a rehabilitation plan, making the case moot.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion supporting the decision that he does not require personal care services. The Board requires a new medical opinion from the CEAT.

The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT)'s decision was legally inadequate.